The Selfish Giant
Puppet Theatre Barge, Richmond-upon-Thames

HALF the joy of seeing a performance at the travelling Puppet Theatre Barge is to enter its magical space, especially with a wonder-struck child in tow.
 
In the iron-hulled darkness below the water line lies an enchanting world of port-holes and golden curtains, where puppets in retirement from previous shows watch the proceedings from perches on wood-panelled walls.
 
As this is something of a homespun, family affair, you can also get a proper cup of tea and a Tunnock’s caramel wafer beforehand – and take them into the cosy 50-seater auditorium, where a ship’s bell rings to begin the show.
 
The same old fashioned charm can be found on the barge’s tiny stage as string marionettes dance around in the service of Oscar Wilde’s evergreen children’s story, adapted by James Boswell.
 
It’s a charming version of the tale of the hard-hearted giant https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fe1pridUdQU who ushers in a perpetual winter by banishing children from his garden; one confident enough to steer away from the religious connotations of the original but sufficiently reverent to keep the beauty of its storyline intact.
 
Against an atmospheric backdrop of folky fiddle music composed by Josh Middleton, the three invisible puppeteers, Emily Dyble, Bori Metzo and Stan Middleton, string into life an ingenious representation of the giant, who we see initially only from the knees down but who later comes into full view as the perspectives are altered and the other puppets become correspondingly smaller.
 
There are also imaginative human representations of the four seasons – autumn with rib cage showing and winter almost fully skeletal – plus a cast of appealing supporting characters, including a sax-playing squirrel, immediate favourite with the children in the audience.
 
Fifty minutes without an interval is the perfect length, maintaining awe-struck attention among kids and adults alike, while avoiding any stretching of the story beyond what is needed to deliver its message. It’s a finely gauged production, gentle, humorous and touching.
 
Runs until September 22 2024: https://www.puppetbarge.com/the-selfish-giant-richmond